Autonomous all-terrain vehicle frame structure

Abstract

A frame structure for an all-terrain vehicle includes upper main frame members and lower main frame members, each upper and lower main frame member extended in a longitudinal direction of the frame structure. The lower main frame members have forward and rearward portions mounted to the upper main frame members and central portions extended in a lateral direction of the frame structure outward of the upper main frame members. First sub-frame members are mounted to the forward and rearward portions of the lower main frame members. The first sub-frame members separate a component space defined by the frame structure into an upper component space and a lower component space. An electric motor is located in the lower component space, and a battery pack is located in the upper component space.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A frame structure for an autonomous all-terrain vehicle comprising:
 left and right laterally spaced upper main frame members extended in a longitudinal direction of the frame structure, each of the left and right upper main frame members is horizontally disposed and has an upper mounting surface; 
 left and right laterally spaced lower main frame members extended in the longitudinal direction; 
 left and right first sub-frame members disposed bridgingly between and mounted to the forward and rearward portions of the respective left and right lower main frame members, wherein the left and right first sub-frame members separate a component space defined by the frame structure into an upper component space and a lower component space, the left and right first sub-frame members are laterally aligned with the respective left and right upper main frame members in a top view of the frame structure; 
 an electric motor located in the lower component space; and 
 a battery pack located in the upper component space. 
 
     
     
       2. The frame structure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first mounting bracket fixedly attached to one of the left and right lower main frame members, the electric motor being attached to the first mounting bracket for securing the electric motor in the lower component space. 
 
     
     
       3. The frame structure of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a gearbox located adjacent to the motor in the lower component space; and 
 a second mounting bracket fixedly attached to one of the left and right lower main frame members, the gearbox being attached to the second mounting bracket for securing the gearbox in the lower component space. 
 
     
     
       4. The frame structure of  claim 3  wherein the battery pack is mounted to the left and right first sub-frame members. 
     
     
       5. The frame structure of  claim 4  wherein the battery pack is mounted vertically above the electric motor and the gearbox. 
     
     
       6. The frame structure of  claim 5  wherein each of the left and right upper frame members is rectangular shaped in cross-section taken along the lateral direction of the frame structure. 
     
     
       7. The frame structure of  claim 6  wherein the battery pack extends laterally outward beyond the left and right laterally spaced lower main frame members and laterally outward beyond the left and right first sub-frame members. 
     
     
       8. The frame structure of  claim 7  wherein:
 each of the left and right lower main frame members have a forward portion and a rearward portion each inclined upwards and mounted to the respective left and right upper main frame members and a central portion extended in a lateral direction of the frame structure outward of the respective left and right upper main frame members. 
 
     
     
       9. The frame structure of  claim 8  further comprising:
 left and right laterally spaced upper rear frame members extended in the longitudinal direction rearward of the left and right main frame members, each of the left and right upper rear frame members being horizontally disposed, offset in a downward direction from the respective left and right upper main frame members, and mounted to the respective rearward inclined portions of the left and right lower main frame members, wherein a rear end portion of each left and right upper rear frame member is curved downwardly; and 
 left and right upper rear suspension sub-frame members disposed bridgingly between and mounted to the rearward inclined portions of the respective left and right lower main frame members and the rear end portions of the respective left and right upper rear frame members. 
 
     
     
       10. The frame structure of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a component mounting bracket mounted to a forward end portion of each left and right upper main frame member; 
 left and right upper forward suspension sub-frame members mounted to the forward inclined portions of the respective left and right lower main frame members, the component mounting bracket mounted to the left and right upper forward suspension sub-frame members; 
 left and right second sub-frame members disposed bridgingly between and mounted to the forward end portions of the respective left and right upper main frame members and the respective left and right upper forward suspension sub-frame members; and 
 wherein the component mounting bracket is forward of the left and right second sub-frame members. 
 
     
     
       11. The frame structure of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 left and right frame rails extended in the longitudinal direction of the frame structure, and a horizontally disposed cargo carrying platform mounted to the left and right frame rails, a width of the cargo carrying platform greater than a spacing between the left and right frame rails; 
 left and right forward platform mounting brackets mounted to the forward inclined portions of the respective left and right lower main frame members; and 
 left and right rear platform mounting brackets mounted to the rearward inclined portions of the respective left and right lower main frame members. 
 
     
     
       12. A frame structure for an autonomous all-terrain vehicle comprising:
 left and right laterally spaced upper main frame members extended in a longitudinal direction of the frame structure, each of the left and right upper main frame members is horizontally disposed and has an upper mounting surface; 
 left and right laterally spaced lower main frame members extended in the longitudinal direction, each of the left and right lower main frame members having a forward portion and a rearward portion each inclined upwards and mounted to the respective left and right upper main frame members and a central portion extended in a lateral direction of the frame structure outward of the respective left and right upper main frame members; 
 left and right first sub-frame members disposed bridgingly between and mounted to the forward and rearward portions of the respective left and right lower main frame members, the left and right first sub-frame members are laterally aligned with the respective left and right upper main frame members in a top view of the frame structure, and wherein the left and right first sub-frame members separate a component space defined by the frame structure into an upper component space and a lower component space; 
 an electric motor located in the lower component space; 
 a battery pack located in the upper component space; 
 wherein the battery pack is located vertically above the electric motor; and 
 wherein the battery pack extends laterally outward beyond the left and right laterally spaced lower main frame members and laterally outward beyond the left and right first sub-frame members. 
 
     
     
       13. The frame structure of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a gearbox located adjacent to the motor in the lower component space. 
 
     
     
       14. The frame structure of  claim 13  wherein the battery pack is located vertically above the electric motor and the gearbox. 
     
     
       15. The frame structure of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a first mounting bracket fixedly attached to one of the left and right lower main frame members, the electric motor being attached to the first mounting bracket for securing the electric motor in the lower component space; and 
 a second mounting bracket fixedly attached to one of the left and right lower main frame members, the gearbox being attached to the second mounting bracket for securing the gearbox in the lower component space. 
 
     
     
       16. The frame structure of  claim 15  wherein the battery pack is mounted to the left and right first sub-frame members. 
     
     
       17. The frame structure of  claim 16  wherein each of the left and right upper frame members is rectangular shaped in cross-section taken along the lateral direction of the frame structure. 
     
     
       18. An autonomous all-terrain vehicle comprising:
 a frame structure, comprising:
 left and right laterally spaced upper main frame members extended in a longitudinal direction of the frame structure, each of the left and right upper main frame members is horizontally disposed and has an upper mounting surface; 
 left and right laterally spaced lower main frame members extended in the longitudinal direction; and 
 left and right first sub-frame members disposed bridgingly between and mounted to the forward and rearward portions of the respective left and right lower main frame members, wherein the left and right first sub-frame members separate a component space defined by the frame structure into an upper component space and a lower component space, the left and right first sub-frame members are laterally aligned with the respective left and right upper main frame members in a top view of the frame structure; 
 
 an electric motor located in the lower component space; and 
 a battery pack for providing electrical power to the electric motor located in the upper component space. 
 
     
     
       19. The autonomous all-terrain vehicle of  claim 18  wherein the battery pack extends laterally outward beyond the left and right laterally spaced lower main frame members and laterally outward beyond the left and right first sub-frame members. 
     
     
       20. The autonomous all-terrain vehicle of  claim 19  wherein the battery pack is mounted to the left and right first sub-frame members.